Tag: metformin

I have just watched the BBC documentary “Diabetes Disaster”. Please watch it? The link is above. What you will see is tragic and avoidable. This is such a great shame for the United Kingdom. Indeed, for the world.

Forget the threat of radical Islam, Russia, North Korea, Aids and Climate Change. This can, and so it seems most likely will, threaten your existence. Especially if nothing changes in the way we deal with T2D (type 2 diabetes)

1 in 10 of the residents of Birmingham, England, have T2D. This is causing incredible strain on the NHS (National Health Service). The complications include cardiovascular problems, kidney problems (nephropathy), neuropathy, joint inflammation and blindness (retinopathy). Sores that do not heal may lead to amputations of feet and legs.

This man had his leg amputated because of gangrene in his foot

I would say that the main causes are too many carbohydrates in the diet and lack of exercise. But then again, I am not a doctor. What do I know? More to the point, what do they know?

In the documentary, we hear that the blame for the situation is “the system not working”.

Hospitals in Birmingham and other parts of the UK are being flooded with T2D patients. This is ruining the country and incurring massive costs.

We learn that there are 3 times the number of T2D cases than all forms of cancer.

We see John, who has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 41 (obese) who finds it hard to control his diet. He takes medication: Metformin, Victoza and insulin. Why insulin? Surely this makes his obesity worse?

Yet one surgeon says the problem is too much fat and too much sugar. Why too much fat? Have they never heard of LCHF, Paleo or ketogenic diets? Dear surgeon and T2D sufferer: Understand this. Eating carbohydrates is as damaging as smoking. Sitting still is as damaging as smoking. Yet everybody acknowledges the dangers and risks of smoking.

40% of diabetics are on dialysis (according to the commentary), which means they have degrees of kidney failure. Their blood needs to be cleaned by a machine. We see a former sportsman who is on dialysis. It surprised him to learn that he had T2D. I do not understand that people prefer amputations, Bariatric surgery or dialysis. They could learn an alternative lifestyle. Structured movement, correct breathing and low-carb diet. It is not hard. It takes time and choosing to take responsibility for one’s health.

Before the Millenium, T2D among children was unheard of in the UK. Now there are ever-increasing numbers. Wow! Is it contagious? (My joke.)

We meet a boy of 15 with T2D. He says “It can happen to everyone and anyone”. Wrong! Carbohydrate “poisoning” can happen to anyone and everyone – and it obviously does.

The frightening part of adolescent T2D is that the complications are serious. More so than with older people. Children are suffering from fatty liver and sclerosis of the liver.

We learn that there are 4 million diabetes sufferers in the UK. The NHS will have to make choices. Who and what to treat. Or run out of money. The NHS spends £1 billion per annum on treating T2D. An amputation costs some £38,000 including aftercare.

We see a 57-year old woman with both feet amputated. She has complications, so one leg is to be amputated above the knee. She almost looks happy with the attention she receives from the doctor when he informs her of this. Strange. Was I really born and brought up in this strange country? I can conclude that eating carbs makes people dumb. I do not need research for that. It is evidence-based.

Another woman has Bariatric surgery. The surgeon butchers her stomach. He wants to do many more such operations. He claims it is “cost-effective” as it avoids later complications. Evidence? He says the problem is lack of resources. He means money.

So, the cause is bad diets? Can these doctors be specific? No. One says that the disease is unrelenting. What disease? T2D or eating carbohydrates?

At the end, we see John on a diet. He eats a plate of porridge (carbs) and looks forward to an apple (carbs) later. No one has told him that the carbs are exacerbating his hunger. If he had an omelette, for example, he would not feel so hungry.

I was sad and also angry watching this. It is not a phenomena restricted to the UK. It is global. It is not only treatable without drugs and surgery, it is in most cases preventable. There is a waste of resources. The beneficiary is the medical industry. The losers are the victims and society.

But hey! I live in Denmark! We are better informed! Only the biggest company here makes drugs to treat T2D. I should not rock the boat. This country can continue to build its wealth on the misery of others.

About the author: Steve Pickering lives in Denmark, is English and born in 1953. Health and fitness has always been an interest. He was startled by the positive results of adopting the Sakharoff Protocol. So he decided to help Misha Sakharoff produce and promote a video course to help people improve their health. Along with his work with Misha, he teaches English privately.

Metformin is being touted as a candidate for keeping people alive until they are 120! (source–Daily Telegraph)

Should we clap our hands with excitement? NO!

The very notion of using a drug to stay alive should set off alarm bells with every person. Metformin is a generic drug, which means that no one in particular owns the rights to produce it. At the present time, it is cheap. If a drugs giant wanted to, they could corner the market and increase the price. This is every drug company’s boss dream come true!

What is metformin (sometimes misnamed Metmorphine) currently prescribed for? It regulates blood glucose levels in diabetes patients. This is without the side effect of straight insulin, which is an increase in body weight.

In the context of longevity, what is Metformin supposed to do? According to the article:

“Metformin increases the number of oxygen molecules released into a cell, which appears to boost robustness and longevity.”

Do we need a drug to do that? Have they not heard that a practice known as Buteyko Breathing does exactly that? I am doing Buteyko breathing as a part of the Sakharoff Path of Strong Health course. So, according to this research, I am also going to live until I am 120 – without drugs!

Why are we so keen to take drugs for every condition? Drugs are typically synthetic biochemical substances. They are prescribed to suppress the symptoms of physiological conditions. Not necessarily to cure the condition. The efficacy is based on evidence. The evidence does not show if it affects other body systems. Especially if drug companies fund the research.

57 years more of taking a drug without side effects; are you kidding me?

Minor Side Effects

Some of the side effects that can occur with metformin may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:

More common:

Acid or sour stomach

belching

bloated

excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines

full feeling

heartburn

indigestion

loss of appetite

metallic taste in the mouth

passing of gas

stomachache

stomach upset or pain

vomiting

weight loss

Less common:

Abnormal stools

bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste

change in taste

difficulty with moving

discoloration of the fingernails or toenails

flu-like symptoms

joint pain

rash

runny nose

sneezing

stuffy nose

swollen joints

To the best of my knowledge, Buteyko breathing has NONE of the side effects. But it does the same thing as “scientists” claim Metformin does.

In short, Buteyko Breathing encourages retention of carbon dioxide in the lungs and blood. This facilitates the release of oxygen from haemeglobin to the cells. This, oxygenating cells. The Bohr Effect. Look it up.

I, for one, prefer a physical method of attaining longevity over taking drugs. Any drugs. What about you?